An unforgettable blend of wild swimming and immersive theatre is taking place on the North Devon coast.
Take to the waves with award-winning theatre-makers Burn the Curtain for Swim from The Wild Shore: a daring and dreamlike fusion of wild swimming and storytelling, where myth, magic, and imagination meet the sea.
From July 8–10, 2025, swimmers will gather on Hele Beach, near Ilfracombe, North Devon to join the mysterious Shore Sisters in a ritual unlike any other. Their mission? To fetch the Sea Runes, tell a story so enthralling it pacifies the ocean’s rage, and secure a year of calm waters for all.
The swims are part of a packed programme of entertainment this summer, under the banner The Wild Shore. Expect excitement, intrigue, song and swims - all within the North Devon Coast National Landscape - in this magical, marine, multi-event participatory experience.
Tickets are on sale now for all the events within The Wild Shore:
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outdoor theatre shows
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wild swims to appease the monsters
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music, writing and treasure-making workshops.
This oceanic extravaganza has been created by acclaimed outdoor theatre specialists Burn the Curtain in partnership with Beaford and playwright Bernadette Russell.
Swimming in stories
”There’s been a huge rise in wild swimming across the UK, as people seek deeper connections with nature,” Joe Hancock, Artistic Director of Burn the Curtain explains, “with Swim from the Wild Shore, we’re taking that one step further, inviting swimmers not just to enter the sea, but to enter a story.”
Each year, a flower blooms in the ocean, an invitation from the deep. To keep the sea monster, the storm, and the spirits of the ocean at bay, a story must be fetched from the surf, one so enchanting it holds the forces of nature spellbound. Will you be the one to retrieve the sea runes and share the tale that saves us all?
Dare to dive in
This theatrical swim is a unique fusion of folklore, endurance, and ocean magic. With only a limited number of spaces available, this is a rare opportunity to take part in a powerful ritual of creativity and connection.
“We’re delighted to be partnering with Burn the Curtain once again, following many years of successful collaboration,” says Claire Ayres, Creative Producer for Beaford Arts. “Their work is always bold, imaginative and deeply engaging. We know they’ll deliver an experience to remember, something truly magical for audiences and participants alike.”
This event is open to confident swimmers over the age of 14, happy in 100 metres of sheltered water. Participants should bring a swimming costume, towel, and something warm for afterwards. Imagination is essential. Limited places available. Dare to dive in?
Produced in partnership with Beaford Arts, Swim from the Wild Shore is a prologue to a major immersive theatre production coming to Bucks Mills later this summer and there’s more to explore in the lead-up.
Swims from the Wild Shore:
Dates: July 8–10, 2025
Location: Hele Beach, Ilfracombe, North Devon
Tickets & more info: www.beaford.org/events
Treasures, writings, songs & rhythms from The Wild Shore
Magical and absorbing workshops for all the family are also part of The Wild Shore production this summer.
You and your friends and family will get a chance to make treasures, music and writings that will be incorporated into the shows.
Music workshops with acclaimed musician Becki Driscoll of Rootnotes, to create seashore-inspired sounds that will be incorporated into the shows, take place on Saturday 12 July in Alwington.
Creative writing workshops, with The Wild Shore’s writer Bernadette Russell and Burn The Curtain’s Kerrie Seymour will offer the chance to write letters to imaginary folks ‘Lost At Sea’. They take place on Saturday 26 July in Barnstaple and Bideford Libraries.
Get tickets for all events & workshops from The Wild Shore here: https://beaford.org/events
The Wild Shore is funded by Arts Council England, Beaford, Rootnotes and The Fenton Arts Trust. The creative writing workshops are supported by Libraries Unlimited.
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